Disposable and foldable partly plate for a buffet

ABSTRACT

A disposable and foldable party plate for serving a buffet. The plate has a left portion, a mid portion, and a right portion, wherein the left portion is a mirror image of the right portion, wherein two fold lines divide the disposable party plate into the right portion, the mid portion, and the left portion, wherein the two fold lines extend edge to edge and parallel to each other, and a plurality of compartments for holding a plurality of food items.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a disposable party plate, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a foldable and disposable party plate with several compartments fora buffet.

BACKGROUND

Cleaning the dirty dishes is both a tedious and time-consuming job. After an event such as a group dinner or party, a large number of dishes to be cleaned can be tiring and sometimes exasperating. Disposable tableware is often used at parties which can be thrown away after the party and thus saving the host from the cleaning task. However, a variety and multiple disposable tableware are used, such as plates and bowls, which are both unmanageable and costly.

Thus, a need is appreciated for a disposable partly plate that is devoid of the drawbacks of the known disposable tableware and has all advantages of having disposable tableware.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodiments of the present invention in order to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments nor delineate the scope of any or all embodiments. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more embodiments in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

The principal object of the present invention is therefore directed to a disposable party plate that can be used to serve a variety of foods.

It is another object of the present invention that a variety of foods can be conveniently and aesthetically served.

It is still another object of the present invention that the food products can be stably contained minimizing the risks of spills or run outs.

It is yet another object of the present invention that the disposable party plate is economical to manufacture.

It is a further object of the present invention that the disposable party plate can be folded for storage and disposal.

It is still a further object of the present invention that the disposable partly plate can be easy to dispose of.

It is still a further object of the present invention that the remaining food products are not exposed in the folded disposable party plate.

In one aspect, disclosed is a method for serving buffet, the method comprising the steps of providing a disposable party plate comprising a left portion, a mid portion, and a right portion, wherein the left portion is a mirror image of the right portion, wherein two fold lines divide the disposable party plate into the right portion, the mid portion, and the left portion, wherein the two fold lines extend edge to edge and parallel to each other, and a plurality of compartments for holding a plurality of food items. The at least one compartment of the plurality of compartments is narrow and elongated. The plurality of compartments comprises twelve compartments. Sizes and shapes of compartments of the plurality of compartments in the mid portion are different from sizes and shapes of compartments of the plurality of compartments in the left portion. The method further comprises the steps of folding the left portion over the mid portion; and upon folding the left portion, folding the right portion over the left portion such that a top surface of the right portion juxtaposes with a bottom surface of the left portion.

In one aspect, disclosed is a disposable party plate comprising a left portion, a mid portion, and a right portion, wherein the left portion is a mirror image of the right portion, wherein two fold lines divide the disposable party plate into the right portion, the mid portion, and the left portion, wherein the two fold lines extend edge to edge and parallel to each other, and a plurality of compartments for holding a plurality of food items.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, which are incorporated herein, form part of the specification and illustrate embodiments of the present invention. Together with the description, the figures further explain the principles of the present invention and to enable a person skilled in the relevant arts to make and use the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a disposable party plate showing multiple components of distinct size and shapes, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another disposable party plate, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention

FIG. 3 shows a left portion of the disposable party plate folded over the mid portion of the disposable party plate, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a right portion of the disposable party plate turned towards the mid portion, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows the right portion just above the mid portion and about to be folded, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows the disposable party plate in a folded state, wherein the left portion is folded over the mid portion, and the right portion is folded over the left portion, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The accompanying figures, which are incorporated herein, form part of the specification and illustrate embodiments of the present invention. Together with the description, the figures further explain the principles of the present invention and to enable a person skilled in the relevant arts to make and use the invention.

Subject matter will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. Subject matter may, however, be embodied in a variety of different forms and, therefore, covered or claimed subject matter is intended to be construed as not being limited to any exemplary embodiments set forth herein; exemplary embodiments are provided merely to be illustrative. Likewise, a reasonably broad scope for claimed or covered subject matter is intended. Among other things, for example, the subject matter may be embodied as methods, devices, components, or systems. The following detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be taken in a limiting sense.

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Likewise, the term “embodiments of the present invention” does not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage, or mode of operation.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of embodiments of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising,”, “includes” and/or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The following detailed description includes the best currently contemplated mode or modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention will be best defined by the allowed claims of any resulting patent.

Disclosed is a disposable party plate that can be used to serve a variety of food products such as a buffet in a group dinner or a party. A single disposable party plate can be used to serve a variety of food products, thus avoiding the need for multiple tableware. The use of a single disposable party plate can also be economical over the using of multiple disposable tableware. The variety of food products can be served in an organized manner that is both convenient and aesthetic. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, which show an exemplary embodiment of the disclosed disposable party plate 100. The disposable party plate 100, 200 can include a left portion 110, 210; a mid portion 120, 230; and a right portion 130, 230. The disposable party plate can be of a shape such as square or rectangular. The disposable party plate can be made from a disposable material such as mineral-filled polypropylene. The material can be any material known to a skilled person for use in disposable tableware, and any such material can be used in the manufacture of the disclosed disposable party plate without departing from the scope of the present invention. Preferably, the material can be environmentally friendly, biodegradable, or recyclable.

The disclosed disposable party plate can be planar at a top surface. Multiple compartments 140 of a variety of shapes and sizes can be provided for holding a variety of food products including condiments. The shape and size of the compartments can allow aesthetically holding and displaying the food items. On the plate shown in the drawings, about 12 food items can be served. Especially the long and narrow compartments can be used to serve tacos. Generally, a buffet includes more than 10 food items, and the disclosed plate can allow serving all the food items in the buffet at a single time on a single plate. The left side compartments can hold veggies and toppings (lettuce/tomatoes/cheese), the middle 3 compartments can hold the fillers/sides (taco meat/rice/), and the right-side compartments can hold condiments (sour cream/guacamole/salsa). The bottom compartments can be designed to hold the taco shells but can also hot dog buns or bread.

The disclosed disposable party plate can be divided into three equal portions i.e., the left portion, the mid portion, and the right portion. The three portions can be divided by two fold lines 150 that run edge to edge along a length or width of the disclosed disposable party plate. The two fold lines are parallel to each other and the compartments are provided in the three portions of the disclosed plate. Referring to FIG. 3, the left portion 210 can be folded along the fold line over the mid portion 220. The fold line may allow folding the left portion and the right portion in only one direction i.e., upwards. The portions may not be bent downwards when holding the disclosed disposable party plate in hand. Any other suitable mechanism can also be used to prevent pivoting of the left portion and the right portion downwards. The left portion can be turned upwards and then folded over the mid portion, wherein a top surface of the left portion and a top surface of the mid portion can juxtapose or overlap. Referring to FIGS. 4-6, once the left portion is folded, the right portion 230 can also be turned upwards and towards the mid portion. The right portion can be folded over the left portion which is already folded above the mid portion. It is understood that the right portion can also fold over the mid portion independent of the left portion, and the left portion can fold over the right portion which is already folded over the mid portion.

The left portion can be a mirror image of the right portion, such that the right portion can fold over a bottom surface of the left portion or vice versa. The compartments in the left portion and the right portion can be slightly sloped inwards from the top surface of the disclosed disposable party plate to the bottom of the compartments. This allows the cavities of the compartments in the right portion to fit over compartments protruding outwards from the bottom surface of the left portion. Moreover, such a shape of the compartments may also allow multiple disclosed disposable party plates to be stacked one above another, wherein the compartments of a disposable party plate can fit into the compartments of a bottom disposable party plate in the stack.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above-described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for serving buffet, the method comprising the steps of: providing a disposable party plate comprising: a left portion, a mid portion, and a right portion, wherein the left portion is a mirror image of the right portion, wherein two fold lines divide the disposable party plate into the right portion, the mid portion, and the left portion, wherein the two fold lines extend edge to edge and parallel to each other, and a plurality of compartments for holding a plurality of food items.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one compartment of the plurality of compartments is narrow and elongated.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of compartments comprises twelve compartments.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein sizes and shapes of compartments of the plurality of compartments in the mid portion are different from sizes and shapes of compartments of the plurality of compartments in the left portion.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the steps of: folding the left portion over the mid portion; and upon folding the left portion, folding the right portion over the left portion such that a top surface of the right portion juxtaposes with a bottom surface of the left portion.
 6. A disposable party plate comprising: a left portion, a mid portion, and a right portion, wherein the left portion is a mirror image of the right portion, wherein two fold lines divide the disposable party plate into the right portion, the mid portion, and the left portion, wherein the two fold lines extend edge to edge and parallel to each other, and a plurality of compartments for holding a plurality of food items. 